Course Syllabus
Beethoven's violin concerto is one of the best pieces ever written; though it's simple, it requires a lot of effort to approach an ideal rendition. Beethoven did not revise it extensively, in contrast to his much more laborious works. Hadelich sets the stage for the following three movements in this introduction.
Beethoven’s first movement follows a four-note motif as it weaves through the orchestra, beginning in the timpani and passed around with a varying tide of emotions to the other instruments. Augustin Hadelich shows us how to handle the daunting solo violin entrance, maintain intonation as we double the winds an octave higher, and tricky left-hand fingerings. Finally, he explores options for cadenzas, including the most popular by Fritz Kreisler.
The second movement is technically a theme-and-variations but without a predictable form. Hadelich encourages the violinist to follow rather than lead for most of this movement and shares where we can safely explore the softer range of the violin. Finally, Hadelich shares how to avoid this movement sounding like a funeral march.
Hadelich warns against taking the Rondo movement too fast! It’s delightful to play, but always consider the most difficult spots before selecting a tempo. There’s a lot to explore with phrasing, articulation, and double stops in this movement, all of which Hadelich breaks down.
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